CHAPTER 24
Melinda
I put my key in the lock of my apartment door and nearly yelp when it’s pulled open. Morri stands there.
“There you are,” he positively coos at me and opens his arms up wide. I manage to keep a stiff upper lip as I step into them, dropping my purse to the floor and leaving my rolling case in the hallway. “When you called me a few hours ago and told me you were coming back permanently, I almost had a heart attack. And Lowe’s been calling and texting me, but I haven’t responded—”
“Let me pee, Morri,” I say quietly as I pull back. “If you can get my suitcase in and pour some wine, I’ll tell you all about it.”
“Of course, Mely baby,” he says, beside himself.
With a sigh, I trudge down my very short hall in my very small SoHo apartment that still has an extravagant rent because of its location, and I head into the bathroom. I only sneak a quick peek at my appearance in the mirror, and I know I look wretched. I’m still sporting that stunned look of betrayal, and it hasn’t even morphed to one of sadness or anger yet.
I wonder when that will happen.
All I know is when I walked out of Central Cafe after hearing my love life so casually discussed, and realized there was a very real theory going around town that I was being used, I almost felt like I was in the Twilight Zone. There was a weird buzzing in my ears and I swear I thought at one point I was going to pass out. And through it all, as I listened to their coarse hypotheses, deep down I refused to believe it.
That was, until they pointed out that I foolishly got married after knowing someone for three weeks, after we got drunk and he suggested stopping in that wedding chapel.
He is the one who suggested it.
Lowe is the one who first brought it up when we were on that ride. Nothing scarier is what he said.
And then we just sort of “stumbled” into one? While buzzed?
And Lowe’s the one who thought it would be hilarious if we did it?
He’s the one who stated if it was a mistake, we could get it annulled.
And then he’s the one who charmed me with what was inside his pants and took away any possibility of an annulment.
Leaning back, I look into the mirror again, seeing a veil of red flushing my face.
Okay… now I’m starting to get pissed.
But I still have to pee.
I do my business and wash my hands. When I come back out into the living room, Morri has two large glasses of wine ready and the bottle on my coffee table.
Handing one to me, he says, “Here you go.”
I take the glass and chug it down without even stopping for a breath. As my throat works double time to suck the stuff down, Morri gasps at my audacity to do such a thing to a very nice wine.
When I suck the last drop out, I grab the bottle and pour another.
But this time, I sit on the couch with complete decorum and nod my head to the other end for Morri to do the same.
When he’s settled, he asks, “What happened?”
I lift my glass, take a huge swallow, and hiss slightly as the alcohol hits me a little. “Well, I was in Central Cafe eating breakfast as Lowe went to work really early.”
“I still can’t believe you two got married,” Morri says dreamily. I glare at him and he straightens his spine, looking at me with rapt attention. “Sorry.”
“It appears the consensus in town is that Lowe married me to get his hands on Mainer House,” I mutter, and then bite down into my cheek so dratted tears don’t start forming.
Morri crosses one leg over the other and leans toward me with earnest attention. “Hmm. What did Lowe say to that?”
My body jolts as I blink at Morri. “What do you mean?”
“Well, what did Lowe say? Was he incensed? Did he understand why that would cause you to be upset?”
My eyebrows furrow. “He didn’t say anything.”
“Nothing?” Morri asks in disbelief. “That doesn’t sound like him.”
“I mean he didn’t say anything because I didn’t tell him about this,” I snap at Morri, angry he could think I’d even go to Lowe with that.
“I’m confused,” Morri says slowly, walking a fine line with me. “He’s your husband and—”
“He’s not my husband,” I growl at my bestie, and his lips press tightly shut. “He wanted Mainer House. I had it. He led me on. Buttered me up. Got me drunk and then acted like it was a silly game to get married. Then he consummated the marriage in such stellar fashion I was sure this was serendipity. That I’d found my soul mate. God, I was so stupid.”
I take another huge swallow of the wine.
“No,” Morri says adamantly. “No. He wouldn’t do that.”
“You’re taking his side?” I ask in disbelief.
“I am if you didn’t even talk to him about this,” Morri returns heatedly. “Please don’t tell me, Mely, that you just up and left without telling him anything.”
“I left him a note,” I mutter.
“Oh, good goddess,” Morri scolds me. “You’re a child.”
“How dare you judge me—”
“How dare you judge Lowe like that,” Morri yells, and I’m completely taken aback by how furious he is.
“I don’t understand you,” I tell Morri quietly, hoping to bring down his anger level. “Why are you just dismissing my feelings like this?”
“Why are you just automatically assuming Lowe had this underlying motive? That he’s using you? That he’s nefarious and mean and underhanded? Because if you believe this about him, then you believe all those things about him, and I’m telling you… you’re wrong.”
A slimy feeling of guilt tinged with regret starts to seep into me. If Morri is right, then I’m a fool. But I’m also still bristling with anger and resentment, not only at Lowe, but at a town that would dare to even discuss me in such a hurtful way. I realize no matter what the real story is, the only truth I know is that isn’t my way of life. I can’t understand it. I certainly can’t adapt to it. I was more of a fool than anything to think I could have a life there the way my grandmother did.
That something magical and life changing would happen to me.
Tipping my glass up, I finish the rest of my wine and stand from the couch. I don’t even look at Morri, but just softly tell him. “I’m really tired and going to go to bed. I’ll talk to you later. Lock the door behind you if you don’t mind.”
“Mely,” Morri says, and now I hear the contrition in his voice. But I don’t want to hear it. I probably made a mistake in leaving without giving Lowe a chance to defend himself.
I accept that.
But I’m done thinking about this for right now. My life just got upended, and I’ll go ahead and admit it for the first time.
I feel like my heart has been shredded. The only other time I’ve felt this way was when my grandmother died. I realize… I’m not angry.
I’m grieving.
♦
The sun coming in my window hits me in the face and I wince as I sit up in bed. Normally I shut the blinds before going to sleep, but that was the last thing on my mind last night.
“Morri,” I call out as I see it’s just half past ten in the morning from my bedside clock.
He doesn’t respond. By the general stillness of the apartment, I know he must have left to go back home last night.
Rolling out of bed, I grab my phone from the nightstand and pad into the kitchen. I don’t bother turning it on until I get my first cup of coffee doctored and take a few sips.
Then I look to see the damage that’s left behind.
First, my voice messages. I’m surprised to only see three since I left Whynot yesterday morning. I’d turned my phone off intentionally as I didn’t know when Lowe would find the note I’d left on the counter of Mainer House, but I knew he’d call me and I didn’t have the guts to talk to him.
I’m guessing because there was a small part of me deep down that knew he’d never do something like that, but I was letting my anger at the people in Central Cafe drive me, most especially Lynette Carnes. When she looked at me after dropping the bombshell about how they’d discussed Lowe would get the house in a divorce, she looked straight at me and smiled like a cat and I was the canary.
My stomach churns as I listen to the first voice mail from Lowe.
What in the hell, Mely? he shouted into the phone. I can’t find you today, was worried something bad had happened to you, and I find a note on the counter telling me it’s over? Just what in the hell, woman?
Oh, God. In hindsight, that note was a bad idea.
It had been short.
Too short.
Lowe,
I was in Central Cafe today and heard small-town gossip at its finest. It appears everyone agrees that you’ve been playing me. The Vegas marriage was genius. I didn’t realize you’d stoop to marrying me and then divorcing me to get Mainer House back.
I didn’t realize it meant just that much to you.
Tell you what… you can have the house.
I’ll keep my dignity.
Melinda
Ugh, that was a petty, spiteful note that I’m pretty sure in the clear light of today wasn’t necessary at all.
Lowe’s voice continues, although it drops an octave. I hope you know that is not the reason I married you, and while I haven’t said it aloud yet, you must know I love you, Mely. For the love of all that’s holy, I can’t believe you’d be that foolish as to let those people get in your head like that. Just… call me, okay?
I hit delete as I have no desire to ever hear that again.
I shore up but give a preemptory wince when I hear the tone of Lowe’s voice on the second voice mail. Okay, now I’m pissed. You don’t even have the common courtesy to call me back or respond to my texts. I haven’t even gotten to his texts yet, and I’m not sure I ever want to. Thank God Morri told me you made it safely to New York. Please call me as soon as you get this.
I delete that voice mail too.
The third, surprisingly, isn’t from Lowe, but his mother, and that really shames me.
Catherine’s voice is sweet as honey, and I can tell she’s as concerned for me as she is her son. Mely… sweetie. I made a promise to myself I’d never interfere in my children’s love lives, but I can’t help it. What you heard was beyond wrong, and there are a lot of people here who are sorry for hurting you. Please don’t turn this on Lowe, though. I can promise you that my boy loves you and would never in a million years hurt you. Please call him.
Oh, God. I’m drowning in guilt. I hit delete as fast as I can.
Then I turn to the texts from Lowe.
They are numerous but surprisingly short, except for the last one.
Mely… want to grab some lunch together?
Hello?
Mely, are you okay?
I’m getting worried. Going to head over to Mainer House.
I left you a voice mail an hour ago and you still can’t call?
Clearly, it’s too much of a bother for you to call me. I just left you another voice mail, and as you might can tell…I. AM. REALLY. PISSED. You’re being a brat.
Then the long text, and I feel like my heart curls up and dies when I finish it.
I’m done, Mely. Done chasing you. I thought about hopping a plane to New York and dragging you back here, but then I thought… why should I even bother with the effort? She can’t even return my phone call. Hell, she can’t even bother with the truth. You just up and left without even letting me try to defend myself. So no… not coming to New York after you. Not going to answer your call if you do bother to try to reach me. Only other thing I want you to know is I’ve done some digging and all of this was orchestrated by Lynette. I thought you were smarter than the way you’re acting. Thought you would have figured that out. She’s a piece of work alright, but here’s the thing… she would have at least given me the benefit of the doubt.
I suck in a breath between my teeth, because that was just harsh.
But it was also calculated, I know, because without any further thought, I’m dialing Lowe’s number. He doesn’t answer as he promised, and I don’t leave a message.
What I have to say is too important for that.